Be patient, congestion is here for good in Quebec

Caught in traffic? Even if the situation is not “worse than ever” as confirmed by recent data obtained by The Journalhighway congestion is here for good in the greater Quebec region. Motorists, be patient!

• Also read: You are not dreaming, there is traffic in Quebec… even on weekends

The Journal made a foray in recent weeks into the Integrated Traffic Management Center (ICMC) of the Ministry of Transport to see first-hand the congestion that often angers motorists.

The figures are clear: the situation is back to pre-pandemic levels, except on Mondays and Fridays when teleworking now allows you to breathe a little. Between 2017 and 2024, the average flow rates for a day in September on the main highways of metropolitan Quebec have barely changed, as shown by figures provided to Journal by the ministry.

Even though the work which caused a reduction in the number of cars on the Quebec Bridge this fall is not reflected by a concrete increase in traffic on the Pierre-Laporte Bridge.

But for the rest, it’s better to get used to it, the congestion is not going away.

“I don’t think we’re ever going to make congestion disappear, but I believe we can try to stabilize it,” analyzes Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen, full professor and vice-dean of studies at the Department of Geography at Laval University.

Same hot spots

Bridge sector, Capital and Laurentian highways, Highway 20 on the South Shore: the hot spots are still the same in the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches.

“There is no solution,” says Richard Pilote, CIGC telecommunications officer, resident of Lévis, who observes traffic all week long and is unable to avoid it himself when he has to travel. between the two banks.

“There is a lack of vision in urban development,” says Marc Cadieux, president and CEO of the Quebec Trucking Association. “We have the same highway infrastructure, but we continue to develop real estate on land along these infrastructures, without changing anything.”

This lack of planning often comes up in speeches.

Many deplore the fact that governments and municipalities are developing at breakneck speed, welcoming new residents, without at the same time planning mobility infrastructure.

“We should think about developing transport at the same time, not afterwards. I’m exaggerating, but there should almost already be a bus at the door of each building when it opens,” image Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen.

“It won’t work”

Because development and the influx of newcomers will not stop. An addition of 100,000 daily trips was expected in metropolitan Quebec by 2040, but this figure would already be largely obsolete given the rate of demographic increases in recent years.

“It’s crazy! If we continue at this pace […] we are going to have 200,000, 300,000 more trips in 2040,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand last September.

“And if these new arrivals in the region all travel in solo cars, it’s clear that it won’t work,” adds Professor Vandersmissen, for whom the solution involves a set of means that would reduce the number of cars. solos on our roads, particularly public transport.

And building a new bond in all of this?

“It’s going to take a third link,” estimates Michel Joncas, telecommunications officer at the CIGC, convinced, like several of his colleagues, of the need to launch the project despite the significant costs and the benefits which would be marginal, according to certain experts. .

Depoliticize mobility?

But whether for major new link and tramway projects or for minor developments, everyone agrees that the politicization of projects is harmful to congestion in the road network.

“These decisions should be carried out by an independent, depoliticized agency. We must follow what the studies say and avoid changes in positions or ideas every four years,” argues Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen.